Life-buoy.



w. HEINRICH & F..JANSSEN.

LIFE'BUOY.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 9, 1913.

Patented Dec. 28, 1915. i

cm, WASHINGTON. n. C.

T FFTQE.

LIFE-RUDY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 28, 1915.

' Application filed December a 1913. Serial No. 805,636.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, WiLHELM HEINRICH and FRIEDRICH JANssnN, subjects of the King of Prussia, and residents of Geestemiinde, Germany, have invented certain new and useful'lmprovements in Life-Buoys, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved lifebuoy, which is represented on the accompanying drawing, in which Flgure l is a vertlcal section, Fig. 2 a front view, and Fig. 3 a cross-section on the line 1-1 of Fig. 1, of the same.

Foldable life-buoys are already known, the same being however made to fit the human body and provided with separate means for insuring the buoyancy. Such lifebuoys have the drawback that they are thrown to and fro at rough sea and that, owing to the violent movement, the person in the life-buoy soon loses consciousness. Further, such life-buoys are not at once ready for use and have the inconvenience of deficient or no supply of air.

The improved life-buoy forming the subject matter of the present invention consists of a hollow tank, which in its, interior is fitted with a receptacle for drinkable water and which is perforated, a telescopic canvas envelop, which is strengthened by rings, being arranged on said tank and forming, when drawn-out, the life-buoy proper, for which purpose a cover, which can be closed from inside, is fixed thereon.

A further improvement consists in the provision ofa pipe on the hood or cover of the life-buoy, the latter being preferably provided with a window or bulls eye, while the upper end of said pipe terminates in a perforated shell which is fixed in any appropriate way, so that through the latter an escape of the bad air and admission of fresh air is allowed.

Another improvement is that the receptacle for drinkable water is provided with a rising-pipe, which is fitted with a stopcock, through which the water can be sucked bv the user of the life-buo Finally, the life-buoy is provided with outer sleeves for the reception of the arms of the user, so that the latter can exert a rowing movement for a propulsion of the lifebuoy.

The life-buoy comprises a telescopic canvas envelop a, which is strengthened by rings 6 and which can be drawn out by means of telescopic, rods 0. At the lower end, the canvas envelop is watertightly fixed on a tank (Z, which is provided with perforations e. In the interior of the tank, the receptacle f for drinkable water is arranged, to which thepipe g-is attachechto the upperend of which a stop-cock h is fixed, so that the user of the life-buoy can suck the water therethrough. At the top, the lifebuoy is closed by a bonnet z', which consists also of canvas and which carries a window or bulls eye 7a which can be closed from inside. At the highest point of the bonnet z a pipe Z is arranged, on the end of which a shell m is put, which is provided with holes a. The pipe may at the same time serve for fixing a distress-flag 0 thereto. The hood 2' is closed from inside by pivotal screw-bolts p. In the interior of the life-buoy, preferably a food-bag g is arranged. The lifebuoy carries further lateral sleeves 1" of flexible material, for instance canvas, leather or the like, which can be drawn inward, if for instance a shark does approach the life-buoy. Preferably, outer ropes 8 serving as handles are arranged on the lifebuoy, so that the same can be dragged along by means of a drawing-rope Z.

By the improved construction, the lifebuoy can be at once put ready for use. On boats, particularly on fishing-boats, which frequently sink within a few minutes after an accident, a large number of such lifebuoys can be easily arranged. The wrecked person needs to stand on the tank only, pull the telescopic canvas envelop upward, quickly close the upper hood and jump over board. By the tank being still empty, the user can quickly move forward with the life-buoy by jumping movements. For this purpose, straps u are arranged on top of the tank for the reception of the feet. Upon the life-buoy being in the sea, the tank is quickly filled with water so that the gravity of the life-buoy lies at the lower end of the same whereby a to and fro throwing of the life buoy by rough sea is prevented.

The drawing-rope t is preferably permanently fixed to the life-buoy, so that the wrecked person can fix the same through the bulls eye to a rope thrown from a passing ship. A suspension-hook a: may be provided on the outside of the life-buoy for suspension of the same from the board of the wreck, whereupon the wrecked person enters the life-buoy and need then only disengage the hook from the board by an up-Q,

Wardly jumping movement assisted by manipulation through the bulls eye 70, sothat the life-buoy falls directly into the sea.- By;

A life-buoy, comprlsing in combination,

a perforated tank, a telescopic canvas envelop' upon said tank, rings to strengthen sald envelop, an upper hood on said en Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Oommissionerof Patents,

- witnesses.

velop to be closed from inside,'a

receptacle for drinkable Water insaidtank, 5

a rising-pipe on said receptacle,"and a stopcock on top of said pipe, substantially as and for the purpose set forth; a

In testimony whereof We have hereunto set our hands in the presence oftWo subscribing 20 WVILHELM HEINRICH; V V FRIEDRICH JANSSEN l Vitnessesf H. FYNEK, FERD; LINDEMANN.

' Washington, D, C. I 

